Hamper



Sept l0, 1,935. w. J. MCELMOYL 2,013,782

HAMPER Filed March 23, 1934 @www n//fm cf/m/ -their destination, for display purposes,

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 HAMPER Application March 23, 1934, Serial No. '716,983

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a cotton duck or canvas shipping hamper and more particularly to a type which is used for either local or long distance transportation of coats, dresses or the like, in which the articles may be supported by hangers. In the transportation of coats or the like, it has been customary to provide canvas shipping hampers of a type having an open top adapted to be closed by a suitable cover during transportation, the coats being folded flat and laid one on top of another. This method of packing coats in a hamper wrinkles the coats and makes it necessa-ry to re-press many of them, upon arrival at In accordance with the present invention there are provided across the top of the hamper one or more horizontal rods by which the hooks of the hangers engaging the shoulders of coats may be supported. It is preferable to provide two of such rods rather than a single one so that the successive hangers may be connected alternately with the rods, thus staggering the heavy collar and shoulder portions of the coats, permitting the larger number to be supported in a given length of hamper. It is, of course, not desirable to make the hamper much wider than the width required by the staggered arrangement of the coats. As a consequence, if rods are merely provided across an open top, after a certain number of coats are located within the hamper, it is dflicult to ll up the entire length of the supporting rods. Because of the climculty in getting the hangers beneath the rods and locating them upon the rods, it is necessary to insert the hangers at an angle and twist them around, disturbing the coats already supported. In any event, there cannot be utilized the full length of the hamper for the support of coats irrespective of the eiorts made to get the final hangers in position.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hamper of this type is provided having an open end so that, although the rst hangers inserted may be inserted from the top, the iinal ones may be inserted from the end, thereby facilitating the placing of the hangers and permitting a complete utilization of all of the space available.

The broad object of the invention is outlined in the preceding paragraph. Other specific objects thereof will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the improved type of hamper;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the front (Cl. 20G- 7) The hamper resembles in general the types pre- 5 I viously used for the same purpose, comprising a frame base 2 which may be mounted on casters l if the hamper is to be used for local transportation. If the hamper is to be used for long distance transportation, then the rollers may be 'y omitted to save shipping space. Supported on the base 2, which may be of conventional form, is a frame indicated generally at 6 and comprising lower and upper rectangular parts connected by vertical bracing which, on the two sides and rear, i

may be of any conventional type. The frame, as

is usual, may be formed of steel rods welded together and held on the base by suitable clamping means. To indicate the changes made in the present invention, there is illustrated specically at I2 the rear upright bracing arrangement which,

it will be noted, provides little free space at the rear. I-Ieretofore such bracing arrangement has been used at both the front and rear. In view of the fact that the front, in accordance with the present invention, is partially open, a different arrangement must be provided.

The front frame portion of the hamper is formed as indicated particularly in Fig. 2. The central upright I4, which may form a continuation of a horizontal rod extending immediately above the base, terminates at a point about one-third the height of the hamper and is connected at its upper end with a bar I6 which may run completely around the hamper and is, in any event, welded to various upright rods to hold it in position. In order to provide a strong front frame portion, iron tubes, indicated at I8, are joined by a horizontal tube 2B welded to their upper ends and to the front horizontal rod of the upper frame portion I0. It has been found convenient to secure the tubes I 8 at their lower ends to the frame by slipping them lover upright rods I9 which may be looped at their lower ends and either merely pivoted upon or welded to the side horizontal rods of the frame portion 8. In any event, a rigid construction is thus obtained giving a considerable open space as indicated most clearly in Fig.

1. Tubes 22, flattened at their ends, are welded to the front and rear portions of the upper rectangular frame portion I0 and serve for the support of the coat hangers.

The basket, of canvas or other suitablei material, is of generally conventional type and is secured to the frame by the usual stitching and fastenings. Instead, however, of being provided with a front portion extending the full height of the hamper, only an abbreviated portion, indicated at 26, is provided which is secured at its upper end to the rod I 6. The upper portion of the front of the hamper is thus left open and may be closed when desired by a ilap indicated at 28 secured to the front edge of the top portion of the frame and adapted to be fastened down when the hamper is used for transportation by some suitable means as, for example, a locking means consisting of posts 30 carried by the cover portion 26 adapted to project through eyelets 32 in the flap 28, and provided with horizontally aligned holes 'through which there may be passed a rod adapted to be locked in position. This type of closure is commonly used in hampers for closing tops. In addition, to prevent opening of the sides, straps 34 may be engaged with buckles 36 carried by straps secured to the sides of the frame.

The top of the hamper may be closed in the usual fashion by a cover 38 of `wood or canvas, there being provided cooperating fastening means indicated at All and 42 whereby the cover may be locked in closed position.

In the use of the hamper just described, the cover 4B may be completely opened in the usual fashion and the first hangers and coats inserted through the open top. After a number have been inserted, and insertion becomes more dinicult, then the front of the hamper may be opened by raising the ap Z8 and the remaining hangers and coats inserted through the front end. In

vView of the open space provided by the front frame construction, no great amount of twisting of the hangers is necessary to locate them in position for engagement with the rods 22 and hence the hamper may be completely filled without any substantial disturbance of the garments already therein. Emptying of the hamper may be carried out in the same fashion. If desired, both complete filling and emptying may be accomplished through the open end rather than through the open top.

While there has been referred to specifically the use of the hamper in connection with coats, since 10 by reason of their bulk they create the primary problems, it will be obvious that the hamper is equally adapted for the reception of dresses or the like where the same problems arise though perhaps to a less degree.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in carrying out the invention Without departing from the scope thereof as dened in the following claim.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A canvas shipping hamper for the reception of garments supported on hangers comprising a rectangular frame and a fabric carried thereby to form upright walls, one of said walls being provided with an opening of substantial size for the insertion of garments, the frame being provided with a tubular arched construction about the opening, the tubular construction being secured to the lower part of the frame by the reception into the tubular lower portion thereof of rods connected to the lower part of the frame, means for supporting hangers connected to the tubular construction, and a fabric means for closing said opening.

WILLIAM J. MCELMOYL. 

